Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day, March 2013

Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day has woken me up from a Winter nap. I didn't really think I would have enough flowers to warrant a post but I was surprised by what I found when I went scouting. It really is amazing weather we're having here in Portland. I spent a good hour reading in a t-shirt outside today. I think Spring is really here!

Catkins count as blooms right? The Harry Lauder's walking stick is in his glory and singing his funny tune right now. 

So tall and proud and chirpy. My grocery store daffodils are the first to open and my grocery store primroses have been blooming all Winter. Well, this one has at least. Looks like I need to get some Sluggo over there. 

My Edgeworthia, the star of my garden, has me worried that is has some sort of soil-born disease or something. For the last couple years it has been having leaf die-back in the early Summer and now something weird is going on with its blooms. Only a few lower suckers are blooming and the rest of the buds are still closed tight. Fingers crossed that they will still open to look like these glorious pompoms. 

I fall in love again every Spring with euphorbia wulfenii. I just love that fresh looking chartreuse green.

This is my first year growing broad windsor fava beans which I planted in the Fall and they are such a trip. I love the glaucus folliage and the flowers are really amazing. Kinda creepy in a way. 

My neighbor's flowering quince always spills into my yard, for which I am very grateful. I always help myself to some branches to bring inside. 

The cutest! I cherish the cheery little Oregon violets (or Evergreen Violets “Viola sempervirens”). Aren't they adorable? And they make a very well-behaved and tidy groundcover too when not in bloom. 

This is my favorite primrose and it looks like the slugs are rather fond of it too.

This confused flowering quince which I bought at Cistus Nursery a few years ago has been blooming since Fall. Go quince, go!

The diminutive Tête-à-Tête Daffodil is one of the first to bloom of the species. I divided a small clump of these last Fall and they are coming along nicely. 

My Cowslip Primroses are just beginning to peek their heads out. This variety has done really well for me and for some reason the slugs don't bother them as much.

And it wouldn't be March in Portland without huge swaths of Witch Hazel. I can't wait to cut a giant bunch of these for my bedroom. 

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Be sure to head over to May Dreams Gardens to see what's blooming in other garden bloggers' gardens and a big thanks to Carol for hosting!

Ice Gardening--3 Outdoor Activities For Snowy Days

I'm slowly coming to terms with the fact that we are not likely to get any significant snow in Portland this year. There have been a couple pretty days when we had some snow fall but never enough at my house to make a snowman. These projects will have to wait until next year and I will admire my blooming crocuses now as consolation.

Icy Artwork from Artful Adventures

1. CREATE AN ICY ARTWORK

I think these little frozen capsules are so enchanting and what a great project for kids. Taking time to gather materials to encapsulate in these glassy frames is a great way to stop and look at the natural beauty of Winter. There is always something growing somewhere. It just takes a little more time and careful observation to find the beauty. 

 Ice Lanterns at Artful Adventures

2. MAKE ICE LANTERNS

Building off of the icy artwork idea, Artful Adventures shows us how to create an ice lantern using an ice cream tub. This can actually be made in the freezer any time of the year which has my mind racing with all sorts of ideas. How beautiful would some ice bowls with encapsulated violas be for a Summer tea? 

Snow Lantern at Viking Kids

3. MAKE A TRADITIONAL SWEDISH SNOWBALL LANTERN

I just love this Scandinavian tradition of stacking snowballs to make a cave for a lantern. They look so magical and I'd love to see a series of these scattered across the landscape.

What are your favorite Wintertime outdoor activities and how do you get enjoyment out of your garden in the Winter? I'd love to hear about it in the comments! 

My Favorite Spring-Planted Bulbs

Spring bulbs won't be shipping for a few months yet but smart gardeners know to get their orders placed ASAP or risk the disappointment of missing out on that coveted heirloom variety they are dying to try.

Here are some recommendations of things that I have grown and loved or things that are on my wishlist this season...

 

Dahlias

We are in dahlia heaven here and many of the world's finest varieties are grown right here in Oregon. Portland's Swan Island Dahlias is America's largest dahlia grower, selling over 350 varieties and their prices are great since you are buying straight from the source rather than a reseller. I'm really fond of the dark-foliage varieties as well as the collarettes (they have an orange and red one named for Winnie the Pooh!). Each year they introduce new hybrids. From their 2013 introductions I'm particularly excited about Ice Tea. I love the tidy shape and the nuanced shades of pink and salmon.

Dahlia Ice Tea from Swan Island Dahlias

Cannas

Talk about bang for your buck--tropical flowers AND striking architectural foliage AND incredible single-season growth. Cannas are really easy and great for pots or in the ground. I dropped the ball on growing them the last few years but I really, really want to try this upright (and to 8'!), dark-foliage variety from Brian's Botanicals. Incredible, right?

Canna Intrigue from Brian's Botanicals

Lilies

My first lily, the classic white Casablanca, has multiplied so much by my porch that it's becoming almost overwhelming to sit there when they are all in bloom. While I think the Oriental Lilies really are the most luscious, I wish I had more room for some of the statuesque Trumpet Lillies which always make me think of John Singer Sargent's Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose. 

Regale "Album" Trumpet Lily at K.Van Bourgondien

Elephant Ears

I can't live without the speckled lime and black Colocasia Mojito and I'm dying to try this new introduction from Brian's Botanicals Colocasia Red Eyed Gecko. Can you imagine the stunning high-contrast combinations you could create with burgundy and black and pink?!

Colocasia Red Eyed Gecko at Brian's Botanicals

Gladioli

Poor gladiolas, they are so out of style these days just like irises and yet so lovely and indispensable as cut flowers.  It was Old House Gardens that got me to see the light. I fell hard for their tropicalisimo Starface.

Gladioli Starface at Old House Gardens

Anemone

I always regret not having these in my garden when they bloom in Portland in late Summer and hopefully this is the year I rectify that. They are just so graceful and pretty. I'm just starting to learn about the different varieties (including some doubles for those who like things blousy!). The variety Richard Ahrens looks particularly nice--it starts off pink and fades to white with a contrasting yellow center.

Japanese Anemone Richard Ahrens at Plantify

What are your favorite Spring-planted bulbs or what are you eying for this year? I would love to hear! 

Happy 2013

Paul Klee, Park 1920

Well hello! I hope you all had a great holiday, however you celebrate. I had a bunch of relatives descend from far and wide (SO grateful for visits and not having to travel). It was my birthday on the 27th, one of my favorites ever. It was very quiet. I had dim sum at Wong King with my family. My Mom knitted me a terrific red hat using a pattern from local designer Laura Irwin (you can get the pdf here).

My husband Matt and I had a walk through the Oregon Vietnam Veteran's Memorial called the Garden of Solace in the Hoyt Arboretum. Have you been there? It was my first time and I may make it a New Year tradition. It's strikingly beautiful in the Winter--you walk in a spiral, much of it lined in red twig dogwoods which were in their full glory. Above the memorial there's also a holly garden--I had no idea there were so many cool varieties of holly!

My efforts in the garden these days have been limited to walking around with my magnifying glass looking for signs of Spring bulbs. Oh, and I finally had to tuck my brugmansia into bed in the basement after she bloomed her heart out through Christmas. Weirdo.

How about you? Are you knee-deep in seed catalogs? Is the garden on your mind these days or are you focused on other things?

Holiday Plant Inspiration From Petra Hallberg

I got so inspired looking at these Winter decorations created by Swedish florist and stylist Petra Hallberg. I love that she lets the plants be plants, things still look natural rather than pristine and scrubbed up, and yet her arrangements are off the wall and totally creative.  That white amaryllis arrangement is blowing my mind. So luscious.

How To Make A Clementine Lantern

Did you know you can make a little lantern out of a clementine? It's really easy and a group of these makes a great table decoration, lasting about the length of a meal.

Steps:

1. Make an incision around the middle of the clementine. 

2. Carefully remove the peels both top and bottom taking care not to remove the center "wick".

3. Cut out an opening in the top, either with a small cookie cutter or free-hand with an x-acto knife. 

4. Fill the other half with olive oil 3/4 of the way up the wick but spread a little oil on that too.

5. Light the wick and put the top back on.

The Portland Bazaar This Weekend

Photo via Amy Merrick

So many reasons to head over to the Portland Bazaar this weekend. I already told you how Portland Apothecary will have some items for sale there. Can't wait! And my favorite local flower girl Anna Mara will be there too selling some of her lovely giftable holiday plants.

I'm also really excited to hear that Amy Merrick is flying out for some wreath making classes. The classes sold out in a flash, of course, but I'm still looking forward to hopefully catching some glimpses of the wreath making in action and getting some inspiration.

The brain child of Grace Bonney of Design*Sponge created as Portland's answer to the Brooklyn Flea, the Portland Bazaar is going to be such a fun event with classes, music, food, and a killer roster of local sellers including:

Boys Fort, Solabee, Beam & Anchor, Wood & Faulk, Antler & Co., Ampersand, Beam & Anchor, Phloem Studio, Alder & Co, Frazier & Wing, OLO, Bridge & Burn, Satsuma Press, Sketchbook, Seaworthy, Julianna Swaney, Schoolhouse Electric & Supply Co., stone and honey, Little Otsu, Walnut Studio, Reading Frenzy, Shwood Shop, Beckel Canvas Products, Confectionery, Grove, Maak Soap Lab, Egg Press, Una, Kim Boyce, Eric Trine, Laura Irwin, Caravan Pacific, Favor Jewelry, Draplin, Summerland, Pigeon Toe Ceramics, Good Flock, Woonwinkel, xobruno, Riding the Hermes, Woodblock Chocolate, Kinetic Creatures, Chop Butchery, Hand Eye Supply, Megabolt, New Deal, Beacon Sound, Heartwood, Nice Work, Spacecraft, Btwn Wind + Water, Capricorn Bicycles, Revive, Floyd + Francess and more . . .

The beautifully curated online boutique Summerland will have a booth which will include a collection of things culled from the archives of my old store Le Train Bleu.  I hear it's best to arrive early for the best selection. Can't wait to finally make some progress on my holiday shopping!

Photo via Summerland